BusinessWeek Names RIT Among World’s Best Design Programs

In its second annual survey of “Top Design Schools,” BusinessWeek again names Rochester Institute of Technology among the world’s top programs. The results appear in the magazine’s Oct. 15 issue.

RIT is among 60 colleges and universities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia recognized by BusinessWeek for “the growing role they play in supplying creative managers to corporate and non-profit organizations.” The publication surveyed a panel of innovation consultants, design academics, and corporate executives to select programs that combined design with disciplines such as business, engineering and marketing.

RIT’s School of Design offers internationally recognized degree programs in graphic design, interior design, industrial design and new media design and imaging. Computer skills, design perspectives, career preparation, and exposure to the related areas of publishing, photography, engineering and information technology are integrated into the curriculum.

BusinessWeek cites RIT for interdisciplinary programs that allow students to collaborate on projects for companies like Eastman Kodak and Xerox. Design-related academic partnerships include RIT’s Albert J. Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which enhances opportunities across campus by facilitating business creation and product commercialization projects among business, creative and technology-oriented students.

Additional campus partners with the School of Design include the multidisciplinary senior design program in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the new-media development program in RIT’s B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.